Remember, remember, remember…legwarmers?

Friday 30 April 2010, 10.57 AM
By The Team | Posted in Things

Fame the Musical is now playing at the Regent Theatre. This means two things: we all want to learn how to fly; and we’re all looking at legwarmers and thinking, hmm…could I? Could I really get away with wearing them now, in 2010?

Well, we’ve done a bit of the legwork (so to speak) for you. We’ve asked around and we’ve gone exploring. And this is what we found.

Legwarmers are in most of the big department stores, a sure sign they’ve been on edgy legs for quite some time now. Plus, legging tights and ballet slippers have been staple fashion items for a while –so going all the way with dancewear is no longer much of a stretch. And fuzzy ankle coverings do make sense at this end of April.

A polite legwarmer inquiry elicited some amusement from a helpful Target salesperson. ‘I couldn’t believe it when they came in,’ she said, pointing at the two purple varieties on offer (one striped, one with glitter). ‘Haven’t seen those for years.’  Stocks were low, so someone has been buying them!

At Bloch, that magnificent dancewear store, the guy in front of me asked for a ‘level six unitard’ and they knew exactly what he meant. Legwarmers are part of the terrain here, no raised eyebrows in sight. You’ll find lots of pastel options, plus black white and grey and some lovely soft burgundy thigh-high numbers.

You can choose from two styles, with or without stirrup. Apparently someone cleaned out their stocks of black and hot pink glitter legwarmers – respect! – but the salesperson assured me they’re getting more in. And yes, the guy got his unitard and seemed quite satisfied with it. So good work all round, Bloch.

Finally, if you have your heart set on a particular colour or texture, you could always knit your own. Morris and Sons has a wonderful array of wools, cottons and acrylic blends to choose from, in so many colours you might need to take a paper bag to prevent selection-anxiety hyperventilation.

New or nervous knitters are welcome, just go up and ask your question. Advice will be dispensed with kindness and wisdom – even when the question is about legwarmers. (We checked.)

Clearly, Fame the Musical has revived more than memories in our enthusiastic little city. Once you’re wearing your comfy and cosy fashion numbers, you’ll wonder why you ever stopped. Legwarmers proudly on, your next step is surely to move it and shake it down to the Regent Theatre for one of the world’s best-loved musicals of all time.  

Fame the Musical finishes Sunday 13 June.

« « Meet your QVM trader: Market Juice | MAMMA MIA! » »